getting call duck eggs:-) need any help you can give:-)

[sonew123]

Hi guys,

Im getting some call duck eggs next week to incubate. Im putting them in with some turkey eggs and WC polich ( well aware these guys will hatch ahead of time) anyhoooo I know call duck eggs are harder to incubate and have different needs. I searched the search engine but kept coming up with things that didnt help:-( Does anyone know of a quick link or alot of experience hatching them theyd like to share to help me Id love to be aware of all I can before I get them

Thank so much in advance

 

[fancbrd4me02]

If you have a broody hen, you might want to let her incubate your call eggs. I recently allowed a broody hen to hatch some for me, and I had great results.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
I wish! no one here out of 35 hens is broody-not even a silkie:-( Otherwise I have the best best brooder house for them! Maybe in the next few days Ill get one

 

[sonew123]

helllloooooo???

 

[duckluck]

Me personally, I wouldn't want to set them with any other eggs. I do know people have done it and had some success, but Call eggs are hard enough to hatch without the interference of other eggs. I have someone right now who wants me to hatch 6 dozen eggs for them but I told them they will have to wait until my Calls are done hatching for the year. Chickens lay for a lot of the year but Calls have a very limited season and lay few eggs compared to other birds.

Definitely you are going to want to lay those eggs on their sides and hand turn them. I have no familiarity with turkeys, so you might want to consider if opening the bator and messing with Call eggs at least three times a day could interfere with what your plans/routines are for the other eggs too.

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
wow-ok noted! I might just not use the turner at all for this bunch and hand turn all of them just in case-I wish I had a broody! I wonder if I took one of my famous broody silkie and cage her by herself she'll go broody? throw some fake eggs under her???

 

[jbear]

Try putting eggs under your silkie and see what happens!

I have a serama hen that goes broody over the straw in her nest box... and then I finally get some eggs from her and her roo and no broody..so I just kept sticking eggs under her periodically (i pulled them back out if there was no sign of the brood coming on)--there's five now--and viola, the lil voice in her head said to go broody and now thar she broods.

silly chicken--but I can't wait for these eggs to hatch!

I have Call duck eggs under two silkies and also 9 in my incubator. I have e mailed my 'call duck' mentor several times and he says do not use an egg turner--but hand turn 3 times daily and DO keep them on their side. (just to underline the above point

) I think he uses several incubators-- for incubating and hatching, because he is doing mixed eggs--ducks and geese....

I think also that Acorn Hollow Bantams might have a good link to incubation waterfowl eggs...

Mine are due to hatch April 27th (under the silkies) and May 6th (incubator) when are yours due??

 

[sonew123]

Quote:
haha I have a hatch due this sat butmy call eggs are coming next week-I am going to try and get my silkie to go broody and see what happens-Ill stick some unfertile eggs underneath her for a few days and see if she takes to them-if yes well Ill let my call eggs sit for a day or so then switch them out at night:-0 OOh this is so exciting I've never had a hen incubate eggs to the end especially call duck eggs I might just move her in the house! haha

 

[jbear]

it is TONS of fun.. I am so excited and I drive everybody crazy talking about "The Due Date"! lol!! I can't wait. Hope your silkie goes broody...